Improvements in the continuous production of foodstuffs

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the continuous production of foodstuffs from comminuted materials and more particularly to the continuous production of reconstituted products from comminuted materials.

[0002] A wide variety of materials having food or nutritional value are available for incorporation in foodstuffs, but in the blending of such materials to form a desired balance it is usually necessary and/or convenient to break up the ingredients into finely divided form. The end result is a textureless slurry or paste which needs to be further processed so as to reconstitute the ingredients and provide a texture and a degree of solidity to the final product to render it more attractive to the ultimate user.

[0003] It has been proposed to impart what has been termed chunkiness to such materials by incorporating a gelling agent into the product forming shaped chunks of the mixture and reacting these with a solution of a soluble salt which reacts with the gelling agent to form a gel and thereafter suspending such preformed chunks in a gel containing finely divided nutritional material. Because of the manner in which the chunks have been preformed, usually by a moulding operation, they have generally conformed to a definite shape which is a cube or a ball shape and they have not generally achieved a good simulation of the material prior to comminution. A major disadvantage of prior art methods however, is that they do not lend themselves easily to continuous production and also give rise to considerable problems in packaging, especially when canning of the product is to be carried out.

[0004] In the production for example, of pet foods, and in particular canned pet foods, various ways of imparting chunkiness to the products have been used. One such way that has been developed is to add preformed chunks of textured vegetable protein which are stable to heat processing to the minced meat offals and suspend these in a gel. In addition to the problems outlined above high levels of textured vegetable proteins are in general unacceptable to domestic pets and therefore this method has found only limited application in practice.

[0005] Another method proposed has been to re-form the ground or comminuted meat into shape-retaining cubes or balls by incorporating a soluble alginate salt into the ground meat and reacting this in a variety of ways with calcium ions. The calcium ions react with a soluble alginate salt, thereby rendering it insoluble and a gel is formed which is relatively stable to heat and binds the particles of ground meats together to re-form them to a heat stable chunk. Such preformed chunks are then incorporated into a final canned pet food product by combining a proportion of these preformed reconstituted meat chunks in a gel with a proportion of minced meat and textured vegetable protein chunks. Such methods however, do not easily lend themselves to the continuous production and packaging and are therefore expensive to carry out. Furthermore, the shape of the preformed reconstituted meat chunks does not lend itself to a can filling operation in which each can is required to contain a high and consistent proportion of the preformed chunks.

[0006] In such methods the reformed meat chunks tend to be either spherical or regularly cubic in shape and although chunky do not simulate very closely the texture of meat. A separate manufacturing process to make these re-formed chunks has to be set up, which of course in itself is expensive. There is a limit to the proportion of these chunks that can be filled at high speed in modern canning practice. Furthermore there is a tendency for the different chunks to separate during a high speed filling process and products can therefore result which have variable chunk contents.

[0007] Several procedures have been suggested and are in use for making alginate bound meat chunks, i.e. for reacting the alginates so as to form a gel. In one method an aqueous mixture of finely divided meat and a soluble alginate salt is formed into chunks. These preformed chunks are then treated with a solution containing calcium ions. This forms a skin of gelled calcium alginate around each chunk, which aids the shape retention of the chunk. Such a method is typified in U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,474,629.

[0008] An alternative method involves the use of a water-insoluble calcium salt which is incorporated into the meat and alginate mix. This mixture is then formed into chunks which are then treated on the surface with an edible acid. This causes a surface solubilisation of the incorporated calcium salt, which then becomes available to react with the alginate salt also in the mixture of preformed chunks and thus gelled calcium alginate skin is formed at the surface. Such methods produce generally rounded chunks with relatively soft centres which do not resemble cut pieces of meat for example. In addition, to form sufficiently robust and thick skins so as to maintain the shape of the chunks long contact times in the calcium or acid solutions are necessary. These are obvious disadvantages in high volume continuous manufacturing processes, using materials that are sensitive to microbiological spoilage.

[0009] In an alternative method of forming re-formed chunks an aqueous solution of alginate salt is reacted with a mixture of ground meat or fat, a sparingly soluble calcium salt and a retarding agent. This method is described in U.K. Patent 1,302,432. The retarding agents commonly described in the literature are typically salts of phosphoric acid, citric acid or ethylene diamine tetracetic acid. The use of a retarding agent in this way allows some mixing of the calcium source throughout the meat and alginate salt mixture before setting takes place. After a period of time the calcium salt reacts with the alginate causing setting of the chunks from the inside. Use of retarding agents, such as these suffer from variable lengths of retarding time and can reduce the quality of the alginate gel formed.

[0010] U.K. Patent Specification No. 2058539 describes the use of sugars or polyhydric or monohydric alcohols as retarding agents. In this case the retarding agent is mixed with a sparingly soluble calcium salt and intimately mixed in a high speed mixer continuously with a mixture of finely divided meats and soluble alginate salt. The blended materials are then poured into moulds to form shapes or set on belts and subsequently set into shapes. In addition to the obvious disadvantages for high speed operation, such a method has the further disadvantages that it contains sugars or polyhydric alcohols which are relatively expensive and also the retardation times are only a few seconds to at most a minute or so. In addition, only a proportion of the meat lumps so formed are likely to be present in the final pet food product.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art methods and enables production and packing to be achieved at high speed in a continuous and consistent manner. A further object is to provide a reforming method which enables a much closer approach to the form and texture of the comminuted materials before comminution to be achieved. These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a method of producing a foodstuff which comprises forming at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a first type comprising a gellable material, forming at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a second type comprising a soluble gelling activator which will interact with said gellable material to effect gellation of said gellable material, bringing together said at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a first type and said at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a second type whilst concurrently applying a limited mixing action sufficient to form randomly shaped pieces of one of said aqueous solution or suspension types in a matrix of the other of said aqueous solution or suspension types, but insufficient to cause intimate blending of the two types of aqueous solution or suspension into a single mass, each of said randomly shaped pieces being encapsulated within a gel skin formed by interaction of said gelling activator with said gellable material at the surfaces of said randomly shaped pieces concurrently with said bringing together of said aqueous solutions and/or suspensions of said first and second types, at least one of said aqueous solution or suspension types and preferably at least the aqueous solution or suspension type comprising the encapsulated randomly shaped pieces also comprising a comminuted edible material having food value. The method of the invention may be carried out batchwise or continuously.

[0012] Preferably said gelling activator is a non-toxic soluble salt of a polyvalent cation which reacts with the soluble gellable material to form a gel. Furthermore the aqueous solution or suspension of said first and/or second type may also contain a retarding agent. Alternatively the at least one aqueous solution or suspension of said first type may contain a substantially insoluble salt having a polyvalent cation, which polyvalent cation, if solubilized, would react with the soluble gellable material also contained in said aqueous solution or suspension to form a gel, the aqueous solution or suspension of said second type containing a solubilizing agent for the polyvalent cation of the said insoluble salt. Thus the at least one aqueous solution or suspension of the first type could contain as the gellable material a non-toxic soluble alginate such as sodium alginate together with anhydrous dicalcium phosphate (as the insoluble salt) and the at least one aqueous solution or suspension of the second type could contain citric acid as the gelling activator (in this case a solubilizing agent).

[0013] When the gellable material is, for example, a non-toxic soluble alkali metal alginate or pectate the gelling activator may be a non-toxic soluble salt having a polybasic, preferably divalent cation (e.g. calcium), such as calcium chloride or calcium citrate.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the aqueous solution or suspension of the first type comprises a comminuted edible material having food value, a soluble gellable material and a retarding agent, the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type contains a non-toxic soluble salt having a polyvalent cation which will interact with said soluble gellable material to form a gel, and said randomly shaped pieces comprise said aqueous solution or suspension of said first type encapsulated within the skin formed by interaction of said soluble gellable material with said soluble salt, said pieces being in a matrix formed of said aqueous solution or suspension of said second type.

[0015] In the manner of the invention the two types of aqueous solution or suspension are brought together with what in effect is a folding action so as to encapsulate portions of one type of aqueous solution or suspension within a matrix of the other type of aqueous solution or suspension. The soluble gelling activator of the second type of aqueous solution or suspension interacts with the gellable material in the first type of aqueous solution or suspension at the interfaces so formed to form gel skins which encapsulate each of the so formed randomly shaped pieces of aqueous solution or suspension. Thus the bringing together of the two types of aqueous solution or suspension is effected such that one of the aqueous solution or suspension types is broken into irregularly shaped masses surrounded by a matrix of the other aqueous solution or suspension type, the soluble gelling activator and gellable material simultaneously reacting at the interfaces so formed to form a gel skin which encapsulates the irregularly shaped pieces of aqueous solution or suspension. In this way a plurality of irregularly shaped encapsulated pieces within a matrix are formed which material can inter alia be fed directly to a canning process and lends itself to high speed continuous canning methods.

[0016] It has been found that a leaching of the soluble gelling activator and gellable material through the encapsulating gel skin can occur after the formation of the encapsulated pieces so that a gradual texturising of the inside of each of the irregularly shaped encapsulated pieces continues after their initial formation.

[0017] If desired a non-toxic sparingly soluble salt having the above-mentioned polyvalent cation can be incorporated in the first type and/or the second type of aqueous solution or suspension. Thus in one embodiment of the present invention a first type of aqueous solution or suspension containing comminuted material a soluble gellable material and a retarding agent can be pre-blended with said sparingly soluble salt either dry or in the form of a third type of aqueous suspension, the polyvalent cation of which salt will on solubilisation react with the gellable material to form a gel. This pre-blend is then brought together with the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type containing the soluble gelling activator capable of immediately interacting with the ingredients of the first aqueous solution or suspension type to effect gelling of the soluble gellable material to form a gel in the manner of the invention.

[0018] In the method of the present invention, randomly shaped pieces or chunks are formed within a matrix of an aqueous solution or suspension which not only causes an encapsulating skin to be immediately formed around the chunks but can also act at the same time as a filling medium so that the product can be directly fed into cans in a high speed can filling process. The aqueous solution or suspension forming the interior of the randomly shaped pieces will still be soft immediately after formation and encapsulation and will be suspended in a matrix of the other type of aqueous solution or suspension, the suspension thus being in a state which lends itself to high speed in-line filling of cans with a consistent, and if desired, high content of encapsulated pieces. The secondary leaching of soluble gelling activator through the preformed skins of the randomly shaped encapsulated pieces on the one hand, and the slow release of a sparingly soluble salt when present within the encapsulated pieces and/or matrix acts to texturise the interior of the encapsulated pieces after canning.

[0019] By the term 'sparingly soluble' is meant a salt which will dissolve to a maximum of 0.5 g of salt in 100g of distilled water at 25°C. By the term 'soluble salt' is meant a salt which will dissolve to the extent of more than 0.5g of salt in 100g of distilled water at 25°C. The soluble salt is preferably a 'readily soluble' salt by which is meant one which will dissolve to the extent of more than 5g of salt in 100g of distilled water at 25°C.

[0020] The bringing together of the two aqueous solution or suspension types in the method of the invention is preferably effected by the use of an open throated screw fed progressive cavity pump or a paddle bladed mixer conveyor, either of which can be run in a manner which will effectively break up one aqueous solution or suspension type into irregularly shaped masses surrounded by a matrix of the other aqueous solution or suspension type with the consequential simultaneous gel skin formation and suspension of the encapsulated pieces of one aqueous solution or suspension type in a matrix of the other aqueous solution or suspension type.

[0021] The inclusion of a soluble salt, preferably a readily soluble salt, provides sufficient readily available polyvalent cation to form with the soluble gellable material instant skins of gel without causing complete gelation of all the soluble gellable material available. The inclusion of a sparingly soluble salt in either or both aqueous solution or suspension types allows polyvalent cations to become available at a later stage in the process causing hardening of the centres of the pieces by slow dissolution of cations within the pieces or diffusion of cations or soluble gellable material from the matrix through the previously formed skins into the pieces.

[0022] The screw fed, progressive cavity pump or a paddle bladed mixer conveyor or other apparatus used to bring together the gellable material with the polyvalent cation source is run to produce a specific folding and gentle mixing action that causes just sufficient contact to be made between gelling activator and soluble gellable material at the interfaces of the two aqueous solution or suspension types to cause instant encapsulation of the randomly shaped pieces or chunks in gel skins but insufficient mixing to cause intimate blending such as would take place in a normally run high speed in-line mixer or high revolution impeller pump. Thus, the combined feed rates of the streams being fed to the pump or mixer conveyor and the speed of revolution of the pump or mixer conveyor may be so arranged to give the desired limited mixing action described above. Generally, the combined feed rate of incoming materials to the pump, mixer conveyor or other apparatus should be only just less than the speed at which the pump or mixer conveyor or other apparatus would normally be operated to pump away or convey that rate of material. Thus, the pump, mixer conveyor or other apparatus should preferably be run only slightly starved. If the speed of the pump, mixer conveyor or other apparatus is increased, in addition to generating a greater mixing action, such increase also reduces the size of the encapsulated pieces produced and has the effect of producing a finer textured final product. Too intimate a mixing however, produces a product that is lacking in any real texture. The preferred type of pump employed as a mixer, comprises a screw fed, open throat into which the materials to be pumped and mixed are fed. This screw feeds material into the pumping action of a helical rotor which rotates within a double helix stator. A suitable pump is exemplified by the "T" range of open throat positive displacement pumps produced by Mono Pumps Ltd. The preferred mixer conveyor is a paddle blade mixer conveyor (e.g. that manufactured by Simon Soletec).

[0023] In place of the progressive cavity type pump or mixer conveyor one can use any other device which can be operated to give a gentle folding or coating action rather than a vigorous blending action. Other devices that may be used are lobe pumps, screw fed mincers, barrel extruders and other variable speed in-line mixers. The choice of device is dependent on such features as required throughput, handling characteristics of the different aqueous solution or suspensions, size and boldness of the particles or pieces that make up the final texture. Use of a pump or mixer conveyor as an in-line mixer in the manner of the invention makes it unnecessary to use a separate transfer pump to move the material to the next stage of the process. Manipulation of the encapsulated pieces subsequent to formation should be kept to a minimum. Excessive or too vigorous handling of the encapsulated pieces can cause the gel formation to break resulting in loss of gel strength and syneresis in the final product.

[0024] It has surprisingly been found that the skins so formed in the method of the invention do not adhere to one another and remain separately suspended in the matrix of the other aqueous solution or suspension. The encapsulated pieces are sufficiently robust to remain in discrete form but are sufficiently pliable to be pumped in the matrix of the other aqueous solution or suspension directly to a high speed industrial can filler without losing their coherent texture. Following filling and can seaming the product is also sufficiently heat stable to withstand conventional heat sterilisation processes. Another advantage of the product of the present invention is that it requires no further size reductions as by treatment by blades or dicing devices.

[0025] The operation of the process can be varied to accommodate a plurality of different streams all finally being gently mixed in the manner of the invention. One example of a mode of operation is:

(a) blend of comminuted (e.g. minced) material, soluble gellable material and retarding agent.

(b) solution or suspension of sparingly soluble salt having the aforementioned polyvalent cation in water.

(c) solution or suspension of gelling activator in water.

[0026] Streams from (a) and (b) can be intimately blended in an in-line efficient mixer. This blended stream from (a) and (b) above can now be fed into a gentle-action in-line pump mixer with the stream from (c). In this way good distribution of the sparingly soluble salt throughout the comminuted material/soluble gellable material/retarding agent mix occurs but no gelling action takes place until later in the operation due to presence of the retarding agent. However, instant skinning takes place on the outer surfaces of the randomly sized pieces by the action of the gelling activator on the soluble gellable material when the stream from (c) is added in the manner of the present invention. Alternatively aqueous solution or suspension (b) can be blended with aqueous solution or suspension (c), prior to being fed to the bringing together of the resulting two types of aqueous solutions or suspensions in the manner of the invention.

[0027] Various combinations and textural effects can be achieved by using different coloured blends of comminuted material and gellable materials. In this way for example, using comminuted meat/offal and gellable material simulation of light and dark poultry meat or lean meat with fat striations can be achieved.

[0028] Any suitable gellable material/gelling activator combination may be used in the method of the invention. Thus, non-toxic soluble alkali metal alginate salts, preferably the sodium salt, may be used as the soluble gellable material in combination with soluble calcium salts, preferably a readily soluble calcium salt such as calcium chloride as the gelling activator. Other gellable materials are, for example, non-toxic alkali metal salts of pectic acid, especially the sodium salt and also casein derivatives. Both synthetic materials and naturally occurring or extracted materials may be used as the gellable material.

[0029] In general the amount of soluble gellable material may be from about 0.3 to 3.0% by weight of the final product, and is preferably from 0.7 to 1.3% by weight of the final product. The amount of gelling activator depends in part on its actual solubility and in the case of a readily soluble salt may be from about 0.01 to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of the final product.

[0030] The amount of sparingly soluble salt may, for example, be from about 0.2% to 2% by weight, preferably 0.5% to 1% by weight of the final product. When the soluble gellable material is an alginate, especially sodium alginate, the sparingly soluble salt is preferably calcium sulphate.

[0031] Suitable retarding agents are salts of phosphoric acid, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid or salts of citric acid. Preferred retarding agents are sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate and sodium citrate. The required level of retarding agent employed depends on the level of free cation likely to be present in the aqueous solution or suspension of the first type, the time required to hold this material before using it in the next part of the process and the particular retarding agent adopted. Typically, this will be in the range 0.02 - 0.2% by weight of final product. In making and bringing together the different streams of material in the manner of the invention, the ratio of one stream to the other can be used to modify the final texture achieved. If, for example, in the case of pet foods a product of meaty lumps in a free gravy effect is required, then a high proportion of polyvalent cation containing aqueous solution or suspension would be used. However, if a product of closely striated meat layers is required, then a lower proportion of such aqueous solution or suspension would be used. Generally, in pet foods, the amount of the aqueous solution or suspension of the first type (e.g. a meat/alginate containing aqueous solution or suspension stream will be greater than the amount of the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type (e.g. an aqueous solution or suspension stream containing calcium salts). Depending on the final pet food product required the ratio of aqueous solution or suspension of the first type (e.g. meat/gellable material aqueous solution or suspension) to aqueous solution or suspension of the second type may be in the range of 33 to 1 to 2 to 1, with preferred ratio being in the range of from 10 to 1 to 5 to 1.

[0032] The viscosity, pH and temperature of the aqueous solutions or suspensions do affect the performance of the method and the nature of the end product and can be used to impart a measure of control on the process and product in addition to the parameters already discussed. Thus the viscosity of the aqueous solutions or suspensions affects the size of the pieces, the manner and degree of folding and the ability of the matrix to keep the encapsulated randomly shaped pieces in suspension; the pH affects the availability and activity of the activator; and the temperature has an effect on viscosity and rate of gellation.

[0033] The invention is illustrated by the following Examples:

EXAMPLE 1

[0034] 

(a) a blend of meat offals was prepared by mincing the following materials through a 10 mm plate and mixing together.

(b) This meat offal blend was mixed with a solution of sodium alginate, retarding agent and other material required to make the product suitable for feeding to dogs to produce a slurry having the following composition:-

(c) A suspension of calcium sulphate and calcium chloride was then made using guar gum as a thickening material to aid suspension of the calcium sulphate and also provide viscosity in the calcium suspension. The suspension had the following composition:-

[0035] The meat/alginate slurry (b) was then pumped at 80 kg/min into an open throated Mono pump type T-821 along with the calcium salts suspension (c) being separately pumped at 20 kg/min. The Mono pump was set to run at a rate that would pump a total of 110 kg/min of combined materials. The combined material issuing from the Mono pump was fed directly into a conventional can filler and cans of the combined material were filled and heat processed at 126.67°C (260°F) for 65 minutes. The resulting product was a complete matrix of randomly shaped lumps with striated texture and had a very close similarity to high quality fibrous muscle meat. The product when removed from the can as a cylinder and sliced through with a knife showed a multiplicity of cut skins giving the impression of layers of striated meat. However, when gently pressed, the lumps would separate into discrete randomly shaped pieces.

EXAMPLE 2

[0036] 

(a) A slurry containing meat offal and alginate blend was prepared as in Example 1 (b).

(b) A suspension of a sparingly soluble calcium salt was prepared having the following composition:-

(c) A readily soluble calcium solution was prepared having the following composition:-

[0037] A series of 3 pumps was set up to allow continuous pumping of each of the three components (a), (b) and (c). The rate of each pump was adjusted such that the flows of each component were 80 kg/min., 5 kg/min, 15 kg/min. respectively. In addition, an efficient in-line high speed mixer allowed intimate mixing of the streams (a) and (b). Immediately following this, the combined well mixed (a)/(b) material was pumped into a gentle mixing Mono pump as previously described where it was gently coated with the solution (c). This gentle coating pump was run at a speed that would pump 110 kg/min. of product, with a combined total of 100 kg/min. being pumped to it. The issuing material was filled, canned and processed as in Example 1, and produced product of a similar nature.

EXAMPLE 3

[0038] 

(a) a slurry containing a meat offal and alginate mix was prepared as in Example 1(b).

(b) A second slurry containing meat offal and alginate blend of a much lighter colour was prepared having the following composition:-

(c) A suspension of sparingly soluble and readily soluble calcium salts was made as in Example 1(c). Three feed pumps and a gentle mixing Mono pump were arranged so that the three components (a), (b) and (c) produced above were pumped at rates of 60 kg/min., 20 kg/min. and 20 kg/min. simultaneously continuously and directly into the gentle mixing Mono pump set to pump at 110 kg/min. The issuing material was filled into cans and heat processed as in Example 1. The resulting product was a matrix of light and dark coloured meats with fibrous striations very similar to quality muscle meat and fat throughout the complete can.

EXAMPLE 4

[0039] 

(a) A meat offal blend was prepared as in Example 1(a).

(b) This meat offal blend was mixed with a sodium alginate solution and anhydrous dicalcium phosphate. As with Example 1(b) other ingredients were added to make the product suitable for feeding to dogs, and to produce a slurry having the composition:-

(c) A thickened solution of food acid was prepared:

[0040] The slurry (b) and the thickened solution (c) were simultaneously but separately pumped at rates of 95 kg/min. and 5 kg/min. respectively to a gentle mixing Mono pump running at a speed capable of pumping 110 kg/min. The issuing material was filled into cans and processed as in Example 1. The resulting canned product was very similar to that produced in Example 1.

[0041] In this Example, the calcium in the system added via the anhydrous dicalcium phosphate does not become active since dicalcium phosphate is almost insoluble at normal pH. However, in the presence of citric acid in the Mono pumps gentle mixing/coating action, surfaces of the meat/alginate/dicalcium phosphate blend comprising slurry (b) come into contact with the citric acid in solution (c), the pH at these surfaces drops, the dicalcium phosphate dissolves making calcium available to react with and gel the sodium alginate and so form skins at the interfaces.

EXAMPLE 5

[0042] Example 1 was repeated except that instead of sodium alginate being used, sodium pectate (1% residual methyl groups) was used. The components were handled in the same way as in Example 1 with a canned product of very similar nature resulting.

EXAMPLE 6

[0043] 

a) A meat offal blend was prepared as in Example 1 (a).

b) This meat offal blend was mixed with a solution of sodium alginate, retarding agent and other materials required to make the product suitable for feeding to cats to produce a slurry having the composition:-

c) A solution of calcium chloride was prepared having the composition:

The slurry (b) was then pumped at 80 kg/min into an open throated Mono pump type T-821 along with the solution (c) separately pumped at 20 kg/min. The Mono pump was set to run at a rate that would pump 140 kg/min of combined materials. The combined materials issuing from the Mono pump were fed directly into a conventional can filler and cans of combined slurry material were filled and heat processed at 126.67°C (260°F) for 65 minutes. The resulting product was a plurality of randomly shaped, small lumps suitable for feeding to cats.

EXAMPLE 7

[0044] Example 1 was repeated except that in place of a Mono pump, the components were folded together using a Simon Solitec 200 paddle bladed mixer conveyor, the feed rates being as in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 8

[0045] Example 2 was repeated except that in place of the Mono pump a Simon Solitec 200 paddle bladed mixer conveyor was used, the feed rates being as in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 9

[0046] Example 6 was repeated except that in place of solution (c) a solution of calcium lactate was used having the following composition:-

EXAMPLE 10

[0047] Example 1 was repeated except that in place of the Mono pump, the components were folded together in a variable speed Lobe pump (Model AP400 made by Stainless Steel Pumps Ltd). The pump was run at a speed capable of pumping 150 kg/min whereas the combined feeds of the components totalled 100 kg/min.

EXAMPLE 11

[0048] Example 1 was repeated except that in place of a Mono pump the components were folded together in a screw-fed mincer 35.56cm (14 inch) Mincer manufactured by Weiller Manufacturing Co.) fitted with 25 mm plate but no rotating knife.

EXAMPLE 12

[0049] Example 1 was repeated except that in place of a Mono pump the components were folded together in a screw-fed variable speed extruder 15.24 cm (6 inch) Bonnat Extruder). The extruder was filled with 25 mm round hole die plate.

EXAMPLE 13

[0050] The procedure of Example 6 was repeated except that in place of the meat/offal blend, 100% minced whitefish was used.

EXAMPLE 14

[0051] 

a) Minced beef was prepared by mincing forequarter beef through an 8 mm plate.

b) This minced beef was mixed with a solution of sodium alginate, retarding agent and other material required for making the product suitable for human consumption to form a slurry having the following composition:-

c) A calcium lactate solution was prepared having the following composition:-

[0052] The solution (c) was heated to 90°C and held for 5 minutes to gelatinise the starch and then cooled to 20°C before use.

[0053] The slurry (b) was pumped at 90 kg/min into an open throated Mono pump type T 821 and the solution (c) separately pumped into the said Mono Pump at 10 kg/min. The Mono pump was set to run at a rate that would pump a total of 130 kg/min of combined materials. The combined material issuing from the Mono pump was fed directly into a conventional can filler and cans of the combined slurry material were filled and heat processed at 126.67°C (260°F) for 65 minutes. The resulting product had a striated texture similar to high quality fibrous muscle meat.

EXAMPLE 15

[0054] All procedures were followed as in Example 14 except that in place of minced forequarter beef, minced cod was used. The resulting product had a fleshy striated texture similar to cod steaks.

EXAMPLE 16

[0055] 

a) A slurry composed of a blend of apple pulp, sodium alginate and other materials was made to have the following composition:

b) A solution of calcium lactate was prepared as in Example 14(c).

[0056] The apple pulp and alginate containing slurry (a) was pumped at 90 kg/min into Simon Solitec 200 paddle bladed conveyor, the calcium lactate solution (b) being separately pumped into the said conveyor at 10 kg/min. The Simon Solitec mixer-conveyor speed was adjusted to allow a throughput of 140 kg/min of combined components. The material issuing from the mixer-conveyor was fed directly into a conventional can filler and cans of the combined slurry material were filled and processed at 122,66°C (235°F) for 70 minutes. The resulting product was composed of discrete particles of apple material with a distinct texture more resembling fresh apple pieces rather than canned apple which tends to lose its texture and become soft. The material was suitable as part of a dessert or as the filling for pastry covered pies.

Claims

1. A method of producing a foodstuff, characterized by the steps of forming at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a first type comprising a gellable material, forming at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a second type comprising a soluble gelllng activator which will interact with the said gellable material to effect gellation of the said gellable material, bringing together said at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a first type and said at least one aqueous solution or suspension of a second type whilst concurrently applying a limited mixing action sufficient to form randomly shaped pieces of one of said aqueous solution or suspension types in a matrix of the other of said aqueous solution or suspension types but insufficient to cause intimate blending of the two types of aqueous solution or suspension into a single mass each of said randomly shaped pieces being encapsulated within a gel skin formed by interaction of said gelling activator with said gellable material at the surfaces of said randomly shaped pieces concurrently with said bringing together of said solutions and/or suspensions of said first and second types, at least one of said aqueous solution or suspension types also comprising a comminuted edible material having food value.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least the aqueous solution or suspension type comprising the encapsulated randomly shaped pieces also comprises a comminuted edible material having food value.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the aqueous solution or suspension of the first type comprises a comminuted edible material having food value, a soluble gellable material and a retarding agent, the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type contains a non-toxic soluble salt having a polyvalent cation which will interact with said soluble gellable material to form a gel, and said randomly shaped pieces comprises said aqueous solution or suspension of said first type encapsulated within the skin formed by interaction of said soluble gellable material with said soluble salt, said pieces being in a matrix formed of said aqueous solution or suspension of said second type.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gellable material is a non-toxic alkali metal alginate.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the gelling activator is a non-toxic soluble calcium salt.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the calcium salt is calcium chloride.

7. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gellable material is an intimate mixture of a non-toxic alkali metal alginate and a non-toxic insoluble salt having a polyvalent cation which if solubilised will react with said alginate to form a gel and in that said gelling activator is a non-toxic solubilising agent for said polyvalent cation.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the polyvalent cation is calcium and the solubilising agent is an acid.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the acid is citric acid.

10. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one aqueous solution or suspension of the first type and the at least one aqueous solution or suspension of the second type are fed to either an open throated screw fed progressive cavity pump or a paddle bladed mixer conveyor, the combined feed rates of the aqueous solution or suspensions being fed to the pump or mixing conveyor and the speed of revolution of the pump or mixer conveyor being so arranged to give the limited mixing action.

11. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the amount of soluble gellable material present in the foodstuff is from about 0.3 to 3% by weight of the foodstuff.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the amount of soluble gellable material present in the foodstuff is from 0.7 to 1.3% by weight of the foodstuffs.

13. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the amount of gelling activator present in the foodstuff is from about 0.01 to 1% by weight of the foodstuff.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the amount of gelling activator in the foodstuff is from about 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of the foodstuffs.

15. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a non-toxic sparingly soluble salt having a polyvalent cation which will react with the gellable material to form a gel is incorporated in the first type and/or the second type of aqueous solution or suspension.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the polyvalent cation is calcium.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the sparingly soluble salt is calcium sulphate.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, characterised in that the amount of sparingly soluble salt in the foodstuff is from about 0.2% to 2% by weight of the foodstuff.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the amount of sparingly soluble salt in the foodstuff is from 0.5% to 1% by weight of the foodstuff.

20. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characaterised in that a retarding agent is incorporated in the aqueous solution or suspension of the first type and/or the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the retarding agent is a non-toxic salt of citric acid.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the retarding agent is sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate or sodium citrate.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, 21 or 22, characterised in that the retarding agent is present in the foodstuff in an amount of from 0.02% to 0.2% by weight of the foodstuff.

24. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the weight ratio of aqueous solution or suspension of the first type to the aqueous solution or suspension of the second type in the foodstuff is from 33 to 1 to 2 to 1.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the said weight ratio is from 10 to 1 to 5 to 1.

26. A method as claimed in any of the previous claims characterised in that a plurality of aqueous solutions or suspensions of at least one of said types of aqueous solution or suspension are used and in that at least two of the individual solutions or suspensions comprising said plurality are of different colours or shades.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, characterised in that two or more aqueous solutions or suspensions comprising a blend of comminuted material and gellable material are used and in that said two or more aqueous solutions or suspensions have different colours or shades.

Revendications

1. Méthode de production de produits alimentaires se caractérisant par les étapes de formation d'au moins une solution ou suspension aqueuse d'un premier type contenant une matière gélifiable, de formation d'au moins une solution ou suspension aqueuse d'un second type contenant un activateur de gélification soluble qui va interagir avec la dite matière gélifiable pour provoquer la gélification de la dite matière gélifiable, de mise en contact d'au moins une des dites solutions ou suspensions aqueuses d'un premier type et d'au moins une des dites solutions ou suspensions aqueuses d'un second type, avec l'application simultanée d'un mouvement de mélange limité, suffisant pour former des morceaux de forme aléatoire constitués de l'un des deux types des dites solutions ou suspensions aqueuses dans une matrice de l'autre type des dites solutions ou suspensions aqueuses, mais insuffisant pour causer le mélange intime des deux types de solutions ou suspensions aqueuses et la formation d'une masse homogène, chacun des dits morceaux de forme aléatoire étant encapsulé dans une pellicule de gel formée par l'interaction entre le dit activateur de la gélification et la dite matière gélifiable à la surface des dits morceaux de forme aléatoire, ces réactions étant concomitantes à la mise en contact des dites solutions et/ou suspensions aqueuses des dits premier et second types, l'un des dits types de solutions ou suspensions aqueuses au moins contenant une matière comestible finement divisée ayant une valeur nutritive.

2. Méthode selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait qu'au moins le type de solution ou de suspension aqueuse contenant les morceaux encapsulés de forme aléatoire contient aussi une matière comestible finement divisée ayant une valeur nutritive.

3. Méthode selon les revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée par le fait que la solution ou suspension aqueuse du premier type comprend une matière comestible finement divisée ayant une valeur nutritive, une matière gélifiable soluble et un agent retardateur, que la solution ou suspension aqueuse du second type contient un sel soluble non toxique possédant un cation polyvalent qui va interagir avec ladite matière gélifiable soluble pour former un gel, et que lesdits morceaux de forme aléatoire contiennent ladite solution ou suspension aqueuse du dit premier type encapsulée dans la pellicule formée par l'interaction entre ladite matière gélifiable soluble et ledit sel soluble, lesdits morceaux étant contenus dans une matrice constituée par ladite solution ou suspension aqueuse dudit second type.

4. Méthode selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée par le fait que la matière gélifiable est un alginate de métal alcalin non toxique.

5. Méthode selon la revendication 4, caractérisée par le fait que l'activateur de la gélification est un sel de calcium soluble non toxique.

6. Méthode selon la revendication 5, caractérisée par le fait que le sel de calcium est le chlorure de calcium.

7. Méthode selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée par le fait que la matière gélifiable est un mélange intime entre un alginate non toxique de métal alcalin et un sel insoluble non toxique possédant un cation polyvalent qui, s'il est rendu soluble, va interagir avec le dit alginate pour former un gel et par le fait que le dit activateur de gélification est un agent solubilisateur non toxique pour le dit cation polyvalent.

8. Méthode selon la revendication 7, caractérisée par le fait que le cation polyvalent est l'ion calcium et que l'agent solubilisateur est un acide.

9. Méthode selon revendication 8, caractérisée par le fait que l'acide est l'acide citrique.

10. Méthode selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait qu'au moins une solution ou suspension aqueuse du premier type et au moins une solution ou suspension aqueuse du second type alimentent soit une pompe à cavité progressive à col ouvert alimentée par une vis sans fin ou distributeur-mélangeur à pales, les débits d'alimentation combinés des solutions ou suspensions aqueuses alimentant la pompe ou le distributeur-mélangeur et la vitesse de rotation de la pompe ou du distributeur-mélangeur étant ajustée pour limiter le mouvement de mélange.

11. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que la quantité de matière gélifiable soluble présente dans le produit alimentaire est comprise entre 0,3 et 3% en poids environ du produit alimentaire.

12. Méthode selon la revendication 11, caractérisée par le fait que la quantité de matière gélifiable soluble présente dans le produit alimentaire se situe entre 0,7 et 1,3% en poids des produits alimentaires.

13. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la quantité d'activateur de la gélification présent dans le produit alimentaire se situe environ entre 0,01 et 1% en poids du produit alimentaire.

14. Méthode selon la revendication 13, caractérisée par le fait que la quantité d'activateur de la gélification présent dans le produit alimentaire se situe environ entre 0,05 et 0,2% en poids des produits alimentaires.

15. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait qu'un sel peu soluble non toxique, possédant un cation polyvalent qui va réagir avec la matière gélifiable pour former un gel, est incorporé dans la solution ou suspension aqueuse du premier type et/ou du second type.

16. Méthode selon la revendication 15, caractérisée par le fait que le cation polyvalent est l'ion calcium.

17. Méthode selon la revendication 16, caractérisée par le fait que le sel peu soluble est le sulfate de calcium.

18. Méthode selon la revendication 16 ou 17, caractérisée par le fait que la quantité de sel peu soluble présent dans le produit alimentaire se situe environ entre 0,2 et 2% en poids du produit alimentaire.

19. Méthode selon la revendication 18, caractérisée par le fait que la quantité de sel peu soluble présent dans le produit alimentaire se situe entre 0,5 et 1% en poids du produit alimentaire.

20. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait qu'un agent retardateur est incorporé dans la solution ou suspension aqueuse du premier type et/ou dans la solution ou suspension aqueuse du second type.

21. Méthode selon la revendication 20, caractérisée par le fait que l'agent retardateur est un sel non toxique de l'acide citrique.

22. Méthode selon la revendication 20, caractérisée par le fait que l'agent retardateur est l'hexamétaphosphate de sodium, le pyrophosphate tétrasodique ou le citrate de sodium.

23. Méthode selon la revendication 20, 21 ou 22, caractérisée par le fait que l'agent retardateur est présent dans le produit alimentaire à une teneur allant de 0,02% à 0,2% en poids du produit alimentaire.

24. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que le rapport entre le poids de la solution ou suspension aqueuse du premier type et celui de la solution ou suspension aqueuse du second type dans le produit alimentaire se situe entre 33/1 et 2/1.

25. Méthode selon la revendication 24, caractérisée par le fait que ledit rapport des poids se situe entre 10/1 et 5/1.

26. Méthode selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait qu'une pluralité de solutions ou suspensions aqueuses d'au moins un desdits types de solution ou suspension aqueuse est utilisée et par le fait qu'au moins deux des solutions ou suspensions distinctes comprenant ladite pluralité sont de couleurs ou de nuances différentes.

27. Méthode selon la revendication 26, caractérisée par le fait que deux solutions ou suspensions aqueuses ou plus comprenant un mélange de matière finement divisée et une matière gélifiable sont utilisées et par le fait que lesdites deux ou plusieurs solutions ou suspensions aqueuses ont des couleurs ou des nuances différentes.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Herstellung von Nahrungsmitteln, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es die Schritte einer Bildung von zumindest einer wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension einer ersten Art beinhaltet, welche ein gelierbares Material enthält, sowie einer Bildung von zumindest einer wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension einer zweiten Art, welche einen löslichen Gelierungsaktivator enthält, der mit dem gelierbaren Material zur Gelierung dieses gelierbaren Materials in Wechselwirkung steht, und einem Zusammenbringen von zumindest einer wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension einer ersten Art und zumindest einer wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension einer zweiten Art, während gleichzeitig eine begrenzte Mischbewegung durchgeführt wird, die zur Bildung von willkürlich geformten Stücken einer der Arten von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension in einer Matrix der anderen Art von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension ausreicht, die aber nicht ausreicht, eine gute Vermischung der beiden Arten von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension zu einer einheitlichen Masse zu bewirken, wobei jedes der willkürlich geformten Stücke mit einer Gelhaut überzogen wird, die durch Wechselwirkung des Gelieraktivators mit dem gelierbaren Material an den Oberflächen der willkürlich geformten Stücke gebildet wird, gleichzeitig mit dem Vereinen der wässerigen Lösungen und/oder Suspension der ersten und zweiten Art, wobei zumindest eine der Arten von wässeriger Lösung und/oder Suspension auch ein zerkleinertes genießbares Material mit Nahrungswert enthält.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest die Art von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension, welche die willkürlich geformten Stücke enthält, auch ein zerkleinertes, genießbares Material mit Nahrungswert enthält.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die wässerige Lösung oder Suspenion der ersten Art ein zerkleinertes, genießbares Material mit Nahrungswert, ein lösliches gelierbares Material und einen Hemmstoff enthält, die wässerige Lösung oder Suspension der zweiten Art ein atoxisches lösliches Salz mit einem mehrwertigen Kation enthält, das mit dem löslichen gelierbaren Material zur Bildung eines Gels in Wechselwirkung steht, und daß die willkürlich geformten Stücke die erste Art von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension umfassen, welche in der Haut eingehüllt ist, die durch die Wechselwirkung des löslichen Salzes mit dem löslichen gelierbaren Material gebildet wird, wobei sich die Stücke in einer Matrix befinden, die aus der zweiten Art von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension gebildet wird.

4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das gelierbare Material ein atoxisches Alkalimetallalginat ist.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Gelieraktivator ein atoxisches lösliches Kalziumsalz ist.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Kalziumsalz ein Kalziumchlorid ist.

7. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das gelierbare Material eine gründliche Mischung eines atoxischen Alkalimetallalginates und eines atoxischen unlöslichen Salzes mit einem mehrwertigen Kation ist, das bei Auflösung mit dem Alginat zur Bildung eines Gels reagiert, und daß der Gelieraktivator ein atoxisches Lösungsmittel für das mehrwertige Kation ist.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das mehrwertige Kation Kalzium und das Lösungsmittel eine Säure ist.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Säure Zitronensäure ist.

10. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zumindest eine wässerige Lösung oder Suspension der ersten Art und die zumindest eine wässerige Lösung oder Suspension der zweiten Art entweder einer Wanderhohlraumschneckenpumpe mit verengter Öffnung oder einem Schaufelmischförderer zugeführt werden, wobei die vereinten Zuführgeschwindigkeiten der wässerigen Lösungen oder Suspensionen, die der Pumpe oder dem Mischförderer zugeführt werden, und die Drehgeschwindigkeit der Pumpe oder des Mischförderers derart eingestellt sind, daß eine begrenzte Rührbewegung erhalten wird.

11. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Menge des löslichen gelierbaren Materials, die in dem Nahrungsmittel enthalten ist, 0,3 bis 3,0 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Menge des löslichen gelierbaren Materials, die in dem Nahrungsmittel enthalten ist, 0,7 bis 1,3 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

13. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei welchem die Menge des Gelieraktivators, die in dem Nahrungsmittel enthalten ist, 0,01 bis 1,0 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Menge des Gelieraktivators, die in dem Nahrungsmittel enthalten ist, 0,05 bis 0,2 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

15. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein atoxisches, gering lösliches Salz mit einem mehrwertigen Kation, das mit dem gelierbaren Material zur Bildung eines Gels reagiert, in der ersten Art und/oder zweiten Art von wässeriger Lösung oder Suspension eingearbeitet ist.

16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das mehrwertige Kation Kalzium ist.

17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das gering lösliche Salz Kalziumsulfat ist.

18. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16 oder 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Menge des gering löslichen Salzes in dem Nahrungsmittel 0,2 bis 2 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

19. Verfahren nach Anspruch 18, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Menge des gering löslichen Salzes in dem Nahrungsmittel 0,5 bis 1 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels beträgt.

20. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Hemmstoff in der wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension der ersten Art und/oder in der wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension der zweiten Art eingearbeitet ist.

21. Verfahren nach Anspruch 20, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hemmstoff ein atoxisches Salz der Zitronensäure ist.

22. Verfahren nach Anspruch 20, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hemmstoff ein Natriumhexametaphosphat, Tetranatriumpyrophosphat oder Natriumcitrat ist.

23. Verfahren nach Anspruch 20, 21 oder 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hemmstoff in dem Nahrungsmittel in einer Menge von 0,02 bis 0,2 Gewichtsprozent des Nahrungsmittels enthalten ist.

24. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Gewichtsverhältnis zwischen der wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension der ersten Art und der wässerigen Lösung oder Suspension der zweiten Art in dem Nahrungsmittel 33 zu 1 bis 2 zu 1 beträgt.

25. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Gewichtsverhältnis 10 zu 1 bis 5 zu 1 beträgt.

26. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Vielzahl von wässerigen Lösungen oder Suspensionen von zumindest einer der Arten von wässerigen Lösungen oder Suspensionen verwendet wird, und daß zumindest zwei der einzelnen Lösungen oder Suspensionen, welche diese Vielzahl umfassen, von verschiedener Farbe oder Schattierung sind.

27. Verfahren nach Anspruch 26, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwei oder mehrere wässerige Lösungen oder Suspensionen, die eine Mischung von zerkleinertem Material und gelierbarem Material enthalten, verwendet werden, und daß die beiden oder mehreren Lösungen oder Suspension von verschiedener Farbe oder Schattierung sind.